Hi, Please share your thought and/or comments on future prospects for career in management consulting. Graduated with an honors LLB law degree (2:1) from a non target university. Five years of work experience since then: project management (relatively high profiled international experience), public affairs and over the last three years major international commercial/corporate US/UK law firm on the continent (some say that in the UK its considered magic circle law firm, some say its silver circle), with progression from junior associate to associate position, international secondment, client exposure (top multinational corporations) and etc. I am starting MSc degree at LSE London this autumn and hoping to get into management consulting afterward (in particular, I am interested in organisational behavior, organisational development and design, change management and etc.). I am not targeting necessarily MBB, if at all, but the so-called 2nd tier companies. I am fluent in one other Easter European language and conversational in French. What do you think about my chances? And also, should I for aim analyst or associate position due to my previous, though non management consulting, work experience? I appreciate all your comments. Many thanks.

You should be fine. I'd go for analyst position as-is, or associate once you have the MBA.I think the toughest question you'll face is why you want to be an MC rather than a high-flying city solicitor on M£GA BUCK$ given your magic circle background. After all, law's still a profession, whereas anyone can claim to be an MC.

Thanks Cynic, I don't think I will pursue an MBA. I hope to be fine with MSc degree from LSE for now. I don't mind being an analyst as I consider potential and future move to MC as fresh start in some ways. I just don't want to undermine my work experience. It may appear as if I don't think too much of myself if I go for analyst position-lacking in confidence. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to appear too pushy and/or arrogant if I aim for associate position.Explaining why MC instead of city solicitor. Well, MEGA BUCK argument is really debatable. However, after three years I realized MC will suit me better because of the nature of work and long term exit opportunities into industry. I will work on a more convincing argument as I approach interviews, if I land any that is.

So you have done your law degree, and completed your LPC and training contract I presume, since you are a qualified solicitor. And now, having reached associate level, which in a good law firm puts you on more money than a senior manager in most MCs, you want to start from scratch... for the long term exit opportunities in industry (as opposed to the corporate counsel/compliance/corp dev opportunities from law practice into industry...).Something doesnt add up Loksi. After 3 years PQE at a top firm, not even magic circle necessarily, allowing for your training seat of course, you would be looking at a base of somewhere north of 80K in law.Now you are starting an MSc at LSE, running that expense, to start in a career where you will be looking at a significant pay cut, and for what... to stand around talking drivel about change, organisational design etc..You are going to need something MUCH more convincing.

Thanks, Mars. You are right. Something does not add up. I never said I completed LPC and training contract, hence, I am not a solicitor. I worked abroad, on the continent, for three years for this law firm and I came to place where I had two choices: qualify as a lawyer abroad or find another job. I decided to pursue MSc at LSE, and move into consulting when I finish. If it counts for anything, I have grown increasingly annoyed with the nature of legal work and seeing the solicitors' lifestyle

...didn't get to finish my previous post. Sorry. Seeing the average city's solicitors' lifestyle, it is certainly not as glamorous as most people think. I don't think MC is, either, but its different, and maybe that is why I am hoping to pursue it. The grass is greener syndrome, I guess. I will think of ways to be more convincing at interviews. I really appreciate your thoughts and thank you again, Mars, and other who share their views.

No you didnt say you are a solicitor, but you implied as much by saying that you rose from junior associate to associate level, and given that you specified working for a magic circle (or equivalent status) firm, this implies that you are. Saying you worked for a magic circle firm as a non-lawyer is a meaningless accolade, the equivalent of saying you worked at MBB... but not as a consultant.So enlighten us.. what exactly have you been doing??

A rabbit and a snake collide in a pitch black tunnel. The snake feels over the rabbit and says “furry, long ears, bob tail, must be a rabbit”. The rabbit feels over the snake and says “cold, slippery, no b*lls, must be a lawyer”. Thangyou, carry on.

The hierarchy, organisation, work titles and the nature of work in law firms on the continent is quite different from that in the UK. Non qualified legal associates do almost the same kind of work newly qualified solicitors do in the UK. In the UK it takes less time to become a qualified solicitor then it does to become a lawyer in civil legal systems. And there is the difference between solicitor route and barrister route in the UK, which does not exist in continental Europe. What did I do? Well I worked in corporate division of the firm. I assisted clients in all sorts of issues concerning their organisations legal status, corporate seats, internal corporate structure, management and labor contracts, public affairs, service and purchase purchase contracts, loan agreements, acquisitions, and etc. I did a lot of background legal research for some high valued transactions. I drafted legal opinions and firm's contributions to international publications on various subjects from intellectual property to European competition law. Took part in major due diligence projects and managed corporate analysis part of reports as well as IP aspects. I was exposed to clients on daily basis. clients meetings, and etc....just the taste of what I did.

Ok, much better. Possibly a good fit with transactions practices - but then you could be useful in a PE house.

Thanks, Mars. Do you mind telling me what are "transaction practices"? Also PE? Private equity or...? Anyone else cares to share their views? Thanks